Latching mechanism for endgates



H. PETERS LATCHING MECHANISM FOR END GATES 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 5, 194-4 Invent or Harm Peters 6% orne s Oct. 30, 1945. H. PETERS 2,388,075

LATCHING MECHANISM FOR E ND GATES Filed Oct. 5,' 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Hang Peters Httornggs 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 001;. 5, 1944 Peters Harr Patented Oct. 30,1945

- UNL'll-E jT s ra'rsnr osrics s- LATCHING MECHANISM FOR ENDGATIS Harry Peters, Scribner, Nebr. Application October 5, 1944, Serial No. 557,807 11 Claims. (Cl. 292-287) My invention relates ing mechanisms, for hingedly of vehicle bodies, an object of the to improvements in latchmounted end-gates invention being to provide a simple, durable and eflicient mechaoperable quickly to adjust positions and able the user More specifically. tion to provide and easily to enthe end-gate as desired. it is an object of my invena latching mechanism of the inoted to the vehicle body,

pawl with and disengage the latch-bar.

such latch-block being tiltable relative to the latch-bar to engage said same from said Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and effectivespring means carried by the latch-block for yieldingly' tive to the latch-bar in a tilting the same reladirection to effect the engagement of the latching pawl with said latchbar.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a way in the latch-block for the latch-bar and to pivotally mount the latch-block in a manner inducing the gravitational tilting of the same in accord with the tilting thereof by said spring means to augment and provide for the simplification of such spring means and to serve as safety feature in the event of failure of said spring means.

A further object of my invention is to supply readily accessible and easily operated trip means for tilting the latch-block in a direction to release its latching pawl from the latch-bar and thereby enable the end gate to be any of its latched positions.

Another object of the of the end gate, fromany one tions to any more nearly lowered from invention is to provide a mechanism as abovewhich admits of the closing of its open posiclosed pos'tion thereof simply by swinging the end-gate in closing direction.

A still further feature of my invention resides in duplicating the latch-bars, latch-blocks and trip-means at either side of the vehicle body and in coordinating the operation of the trip-levers so that, upon the operation both thereof will function to tilt their respective latchlatch-blocks and release their respectiv ars.

Other objects of the invention novel combination trated and/or described.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. elevational view of of either trip-lever,

reside in the and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter illusthe rear portion of a vehicle body of simple construction suitable for light trucks, the same being equipped with an end- Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional shaped as to provide a shoulder or catch 2! in the stock of the latch-bar l5 forwardly of the notch.

gate latching mechanism constructed in accordance with my presentinvention, the end-gate being shown, in solid lines, in an upstanding. fully closed position and, in dotted lines, in a horizontal position opened ninety degrees; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the end-gate, in solid lines. in a position opened forty-five degrees and, in dotted lines, in a depending position open "one hundred and eighty degrees; Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view in detail taken as on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

view taken transversely of the truck body as on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and showing the duplicate latching mechanisms at either side of the truck body with their trip-levers coordinated; Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of one of the latch-blocks with its outer side-plate removed, said latch-block being shown in association with a portion of the latchbar, illustrated in dotted lines, and with portions of the truck body and end-gate, likewise illustrated, said'latch-block appearing angularly disposed in its latched relation with respect to the latch-bar wherein the latching pawl is received in one of the notches of the latch-bar; Fig. 'l is a view similar to Fig. 6, the latch-block being shown in its unlatched relationship relative to the latch-bar, wherein the latching pawl is removed from engagement tion of said latch-bar.

Having reference to the drawings, in which similar parts are designated by similar reference characters throughout the several views, it will be seen that the illustrated embodiment of my invention, shown as applied to a truck body A having a hinged end-gate ill, comprises similar latching mechanisms B at either side of the body A.

. Essentially, the illustrated truck body A comprises a bottom II and side-boards l2 and the end-gate Ill comprises a closure panel Illa hinged alongits lower edge to the bottom ll of the body A by means of a hinge pin l3 joumaled in bearings l4 secured to said body. Features of the vehicle body and end-gataother than as above noted, will require no special comment.

In the latching mechanisms B applied to the opposite sides of the body A, each mechanism includes a latch-bar l5 and a latch-block or guide It therefor. Thelatch-bar I5 is pivoted at its rear end to the end-gate ID by means'of a pivot-bolt l1 and is formed at its upper edge with front and rear notches l8, l9 and with an intermediate notch 20, each of said notches being so with the notched por- The latch-block or guide It consists of inner and outer side plates 22, 23 horizontally spaced apart in parallel relation by means of upper and lower spacer-plates '24, 25 which are slightly thicker than the thickness of the latch-bar I5 and which are welded or otherwise suitably secured to said side plates in vertically spaced relationship. The space provided between the inner faces of the side and upper edges of the upper and lower spacerplates 24, 25, provides a way 25 through the latch-block I8 from rear to front thereof in which the latch-bar I5 is slidably received. The latchblock I8 is pivotally mounted on one of the sideboards I2 of the vehicle-body A as by means of a bolt 21 which extends through a bracket 28 fixed to such side-board for the purpose of spacing said latch-block outwardly therefrom. In said way 28, the distance between the side-plates 22, 23 is uniform and only slightly greater than the thickness of the latch-bar I5 closely to accommodate the same in such dimension thereof. Said way 25, however, in the distance between the lower and upper edges of the upper and lower spacer-plates 24," 25, is not uniform. Instead, it has a constriction or throat 29 approximately mid-length thereof. The dimension of this throat 29 from one of the spacer-plates 24, 25 to the other is such that the latch-bar I5, at its upper and lower edges, is closely accommodated plates 22, 23 and the lower.

. 35, to disengage the pawl 34 between said spacer-plates at the locality of said throat. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the lower edge portion 38 of the upper spacer-plate 24 forwardly of the throat 29 parallels the upper edge portion 8| of the lower spacer-plate 25 rearwardly of said throat, while the lower edge portion 32 of said upper spacer-plate 24 rearwardly 'of the throat 29 parallels the upper edge portion 33 of the lower spacer-plate 25 forwardly of said throat. In providing said throat 29 and in constructing the adjacent edges of the spacer-plates 24, 25 in relation to said throat 29, as above described, the pivotally supported latch-block I5 is able to tilt, not only along with the latch-bar I5, but also through a limited range relative thereto.

The latch-block I6 is supplied at its forward end with a pawl 34 of suitable construction adapted to be received, selectively, in the notches I8, I9 and 28 of the latch-bar I5 and to be engaged by the respective locking shoulders 2I on said latch-bar adjacent said notches. This pawl 34, in the form shown, consists of a pin spanning the space between the side-plates 22, 23 and anchored at its ends to said side-plates.

Normally, the latch-block I5 is yieldingly held in an angular relationship relative to the latchbar I5, so that the pawl 34 rides the upper edge of said latch-bar and automatically catches in the notches therein upon the retraction of the same from said 1atch-blOck,-as occasioned by the lowering of the end-gate III. In accomplishing such end, I provide spring means including a tension spring 35 which is caught at its upper end on a hook 36 fastened to the inner side of the latch-block I5 near its upper forward corner. Pivoted to the lower portion of the latch-block I5 and extending forwardly along its inner face is an arm 31 having an outwardly turned terminal portion or shoe 38 under-reaching the lower edge of the latch-bar I5. The lower'end of said tension spring 35 is caught around said arm 31 near the shoe 38 and said spring 35 acts yieldingly to hold the shoe 38 against the lower edge of the latch-bar, I5 and to urge the tilting of the latch block I6 relative to the latch-bar I5 to cause the pawl 34' to ride upon the upper notched edge of said latch-bar I5.

each latching mechanism B Manually operated trip means are provided for conveniently tilting the latch-block I5 relative to the latch-bar l5, against the action of the spring. from either of the notches in 'saidlatch-bar I5 in which said pawl may be lodged. Said trip means includes (a depending link 38 pivoted at its upper end to the latch-block I8 near its upper rear corner and extending along the inner face of said latchblock. This link 33 is pivoted at its lower end to a forwardly extending arm 40 of a bell-crank 4i keyed to a cross-shaft 42 Journaled in bearlugs 43 mounted on the underside of the bottom a II of the vehicle body A. The other arm 44 of the bell-crank 4i constitutes a trip-lever extending downwardly in a position conveniently to be grasped and operated by a user to tilt the latchblock I5 relative to the latch-bar I5 and thereby remove the pawl 34 from its latching position in whatever notch it may occupy in said latchbar I5.

The bell-cranks H of the two latching mechanisms B at opposite sides of the vehicle body A are both keyed to the one cross-shaft 42 so that both mechanisms are simultaneously operated to free their respective latch-bars I5 upon the manipulation of either of said trip-levers 44.

The bolt 21, upon which the latch-block I5 of Y is pivotally mounted, extends through such latch-block above and to the rear of its center of gravity and to the rear of the throat 23 therein. upon the bottom of which the pivoted latch-bar I5 rests. Overbalanced toswing downward at its forward end, and acted upon thus to swing by the latch-bar I5. through gravity, the latch-block I8, without the effect of the spring 35, tends to carry its pawl 54 into engagement with the notched upper edge of the latch-bar I5. This feature minimizes the that will be employed correspondingly, minimizes wear of parts contacted through the action of said spring. It also makes for safety in the event of failure'oi said spring 35.

While the notches I8, I8 and 20 in the latchbar I5 of each latching mechanism may have shoulders or catches rearwardly of each thereof like the shoulders or catches M, I prefer to employ the ratchet type of notch, as shown, so that without touching either of the trip-levers 44', the end-gate I8 may be swung in a direction to close it merely by pushing upon the same. Thus, the end-gate can be quickly and easily swung from any open position to closed or any other more nearly closed position, wherein the latching mechanism will function automatically to latch the end-gate.

In-the fully closed position of the end-gate III (solid lines, Fig. 1) in which the latching pawl 34 of each of the two mechanisms B is lodged in the rearmost notch IQ of its latch-bar I5 behind the shoulder or catch 2|, said end-gate is securely latched closed at both ends thereof. Yet, a slight rearward pull upon either of the trip-levers 44 will disengage the pawl 33 of-each mechanism B from its respective latch-bar I5 freeing the endgate II) to such other adjustment thereof as may be desiredwithin the range provided. The ad- I justment of the end-gate III into position open at latching the end-gate while I have not shown aas herein described, may be latch block pivoted securely against iurther opening movement.

notch in the latch-bar ii for latching the endasssms gate in its depending position, open at one hundred and eighty degrees as in Fig. 3, it will be readily comprehended that a notch or the ratchet type could be provided to keep the depending end-gate from swinging rearward and that a notch with a latching shoulder rearwardly as well as forwardly thereof could be provided to keep'the depending end-gate from swinging in either direction.

Changes in the specific form of my invention, made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

I. A structure of the character described for releasably latching an end-gate pivoted to a vehicle body, said structure including similar latching mechanisms at opposite sides of the vehicle-body, each mechanism comprising a latch-bar pivoted at one end to its respective end of said end-gate and iormed with a series or notches therealong, a latch-block pivoted to the vehicle-body and slidably guiding said latch-bar upon the opening and closing of the end-gate, said latch-block being tiltable together with said latch-bar and also tiltable relative thereto, a pawl carried by the latch-block, said pawl being engageable with the notched portion of the latchbar upon the tilting of the latch-block in one direction relative to the latch-bar and disengageable from such notched portion of said latch-bar upon the reverse tilting of said latch-block relative to said latch-bar, spring means acting yieldingly to tilt the latch-block in said first direction and cause the engagement of said pawl with any of said notches encountering the same, releasing means for opposing the action of said spring means and efiecting the said reverse tilting of said latch-block to cause said pawl to be disengaged from such notch, said releasing means including a trip-lever, the trip-levers of the two mechanisms being connected together and coordinated in. their movements whereby, upon the operation of either trip-lever, bothmechanisms' will be actuated to free their respective pawls from their respective latch-bars, i

2. A structure or the instant nature for latching an end-gate pivoted to a vehicle-body, said structure including similar latching mechanisms at opposite sides of the vehicle-body, each mechanism comprising a latch-bar connected at one end thereof to the end-gate, a* latching member mounted on: the vehicle-body, said latch-bar being-movable along said latching member upon the opening and closing of the end-gate, bar engaging means on said latching member for releasably engaging said latch-bar, and releasing means for rendering said bar engaging means inefiective, said releasing means including a tripmember remotely disposed relative to said latchin; member, the trip-members of the two mechanisms beingconnected together and coordinated in their movements, whereby upon the operation of eithertrip-member bothof said releasing means will be actuated to render their respective bar engaging means inefiective.

3. Latching mechanism for an end-gate pivoted to a vehicle-body, said mechanism comprising a latch-bar pivoted to the end-gate and formed with a series or latching notches therealong, a

to the vehicle-body and slidshown in dotted lines ably guiding said latch-bar upon the opening and closing oi the end-gate, said latch-block being tiltable together with said latch-bar and also tiltable relative thereto, a pawl carried by the latch-block, said pawl being engageable with the notched portion of the latch-bar upon the tilting of the latch-block in one direction relative to the latch-bar and disengageable from said notched portion of said latch-bar upon reverse tilting of said latch-block relative to said latch-bar, spring means acting against the latch bar and latchblock to tilt the latch-block in said first direction and cause the engagement of said pawl with any or said notches encountering the same, and tripmeans for efiecting the said reverse tilting of said 1 latch-block against the action of said spring means to cause said pawl to be disengaged from such notch, said spring means consistins of an .arm pivoted to the latch-block, a shoe on said arm engageable with said latch-bar, and a spring interposed between the arm and latch-block and serving to engage said shoe with said latch-bar and exert a force upon the latch-block. for tilting the same relative to said latch-bar.

4. Latching mechanism for an end-gate pivoted to a vehicle-body, said mechanism comprising a latch-"bar pivoted to the end-gate and formed with a series of latching notches therealong, a latch block pivoted to the vehicle-body and slidably guiding said latch-bar upon the opening and closing of the end-gate, said latchblock being tiltable together with said latch-bar and also tiltable relative thereto, a pawl carried by the latch-block, said pawl being engageable with the notched portion of the latch-bar upon the tilting of the latch-block in one direction relative to the latch-bar and disengageable from said notched portion of said latch-bar upon the reverse tilting of said latch-block relative to said latch-bar, spring means acting against the latchbar and latch-block to tilt the latch-block in said first direction and cause the engagement of said pawl with any of said notches encountering the same, and trip-means for effecting the said reverse tilting of said latch-block against the action of said spring mean to cause said pawl to be disengaged from such notch.

5. Latching mechanism'ior an end-gate pivoted to a vehicle-body, said mechanism comprising a latch-bar pivoted to the end-gate and formed with a latching notch therein, a latchblock pivotallymounted on the vehicle-body and formed with a way therein slidably'receiving said latch-bar, said latch-block being tiltable with said latch-bar and serving slidably to guide the same upon'the opening and closing of the endgate, said way being'forrned with a constriction therein against the bottom of which the lower edge of the latch-bar slidably bears, said way having substantial play relative to the upper and lower edges of the latch-baiexcept at said constriction, said latch-block being tiltable relative to said latch-barwithin the range of such play, a pawl carried by the latch-block, said pawl being engageable with the notched portion of the latch-bar upon the tilting of thelatch-block in one direction relative to the latch-bar and disengageable Irom said notched portion of said latch-bar upon the reverse tilting of said latchblock relative to'said latch-bar, said latch-bar pivoting onan' axis" located with respect to its center of gravity to induce the tilting thereof, by gravity, in said first direction; and asaid constriction in said way being located with respect to to cause-the gravitating efiect I tiltable relative thereto, latch-block, said pawl being engageable with the said notches encountering of the latch-bar to contribute to such tilting of the latch-block and bring said pawl into engagement with said latching notch upon being encountered thereby, spring means acting against the latch-bar and latch-block to tilt the latter in accord with the gravitational tilting thereof, and trip-means operable to efifect the said reverse tilting of said latch-block and cause said pawl to be disengaged from said notch.

6. Latching mechanism for an end-gate pivoted to a vehicle-body, said mechanism comprising a latch-bar pivoted to the end-gate and formed with a latching notch therein, a latchblock pivotally mounted on the vehicle-body and formed with a way therein slidably receiving said latch-bar, said latch-block being tiltable with said latch-bar and serving slidably to guide the same upon the opening and closing of the endgate, said way being formed with a constriction therein against the bottom .of which the lower edge of the latch-bar slidably bears, said way having substantial play relative to the upper and lower edges of the latch-bar except at said constriction, said latch-block being tiltable relative to said latch-bar within the range of such play, a pawl carried by the latch-block, said pawl being engageable with the notched portion of the latch-bar. upon the tilting of the latch-block in one direction-relative to the latch-bar and disengageable from said notched portion of said latch-bar upon the reverse tilting of said latchblock relative to said latch-bar, said latch-bar pivoting on an axis located with respect to its center of gravity to induce the tilting thereof, by gravity, in said first direction, and said constrlction in said way being located with respect to such pivotal axis to cause the gravitating effect of the latch-bar to contribute to such tilting of the latch-block and bring said pawl into engagement with said latching notch upon being encountered thereby, and trip-means operable to eiiect the said reverse tilting of said latchblock and cause said pawl to be disengaged from said notch.

'l. Latching mechanism for an end-gate pivoted to a vehicle-body, said mechanism comprising a latch-bar pivoted to the end-gate and formed with a series oi latching notches therealong, a latch-block pivoted to the vehicle-body and slidably guiding said latch-bar upon the opening and closing of the end-gate, said latch-block being tiltable together with said latch-bar and also a pawl carried by the notched portion of the latch-bar upon the tilting of the latch-block in one direction relative thereto and disengageable from said notched portion of said latch-bar upon the reverse tilting of said latch-block relative thereto, spring means acting to tilt the latch-block in said first direction and cause the engagement of said pawl with any of the same, and tripmeans operable in opposition to said spring means to eiiect the said reverse tilting of said latch-block and cause said pawl to be disengaged from such notch, the notches in said latch-bar being ratcheting notches serving in cooperation with said pawl to latch the end-gate against opening movements only, whereby said end-gate is enabled to be swung closed without resort to said trip-means.

'8. Latching mechanism for an end-gate pivoted to a vehicle-body, said mechanism comprising a latch-bar pivoted to the end-gate and formed with a series of notches therealong, a latchblock pivoted to the vehicle-body and slidabLv guiding said latch-block upon the opening and closing of the end-gate, said latch-block being tiltable together with said latch-bar and also to tilt the latch-block in said first direction and said pawl being engageable with cause the engagement of said. pawl with any 01' said notches encountering the same, and tripmeans operable in opposition to said spring means to eifect the said reverse tilting of said latchblock and cause said pawl to be disengaged from such notch.

9. Latching mechanism for an end-gate pivoted to a vehicle-body, said mechanism comprising a latch-bar pivoted to the end-gate and formed with a latching notch therein, a latch-block pivoted to the vehicle-body and slidably guiding said latch bar upon the opening and closing of the end-gate, said latch-block being tiltable together with said latch-bar and also tiltable relative thereto, a pawl carried by the latch-block,

the notched portion of the latch-bar upon the tilting of the latchblock in one direction relative to the latch-bar and disengageable from such notched portion of said latch-bar upon the reverse tilting of said latch-block relative to said latch-bar, means acting constantly to tilt the latch-block in said first direction and cause said pawl to engage in said notch upon the encountering said pawl, and trip-means operable in opposition to the action of said first means to efiect the said reverse tilting of said latch-block and cause said pawl to be disengaged from said notch.

10. Latching mechanism for an end-gate pivoted to a vehicle-body, said mechanism comprising a latch-bar pivoted to the end-gate, a guide pivoted to the vehicle-body and slidably guiding said'latch-bar upon the opening and closing of the end-gate, said guide being tiltable about a single axis together with and relative to said latch-bar, latching means on the guide for engaging the latch-ban upon tilting movement 01 the former relative to the latter, and releasing means connected to said guide and serving to tilt the same relative to the latch-bar and render said latching means ineifective.

11. Latching mechanism for a vertically swingable end gate pivoted to a vehicle body, said mechanism comprising alatch-bar pivoted to the end-gate to swing in a vertical plane, a guide pivoted to the vehicle-body to swing also in a vertical plane, said guide slidably guiding said latch-bar upon the opening and closing of the end-gate and being tiltable aboutv a single axis together with and oppositely in a first direction and a second direction relative said guide having a tendency to tilt by gravity in said first direction, latching means on the guide for engaging the latch-bar upon tilting movement of said guide in said first direction relative to said latch-bar, said latching means being releasable from the latch-bar upon tilting movement oi the guide in said second direction relative to the latch-bar.

of said notch by to said latch-bar, 

